Philadelphia Airport Employees May Strike During the DNC

Employees including baggage handlers, airplane cleaners, and wheelchair attendants are asking for $15 per hour.

Political conventions are never easy to coordinate—the logistics involve everything from rerouting traffic to finding tons of hotel rooms for the visitors flooding into town. But Philadelphia, which will be hosting the Democratic National Convention from July 25-28, just got a huge wrench thrown into its plans: On Tuesday, many of Philadelphia International Airport's employees, including baggage handlers, airplane cleaners, and wheelchair attendants, voted to strike. The workers are striking for several reasons, including wanting a $15 per hour minimum wage, better scheduling, and the ability to unionize. Most of the workers are not employed by specific airlines and are instead hired out by subcontractors, meaning they are not necessarily subject to the same rules and protections afforded to airline employees.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the strike's timing was intentional: "[the strikers] hope to draw attention from lawmakers and others who can plead their case in Washington, D.C., and locally." Following the vote, in which workers went 461-5 in favor of the strike, employees now have to decide exactly how the strike will go—which shifts and days will be affected. While the dates of the convention haven't specifically been targeted, it's likely they will be as the dates loom closer. The striking workers plan to stand in front of the airport handing out leaflets and carrying signs and banners about their cause. Some have also reportedly made "Fight for $15" luggage tags they will be giving out for supportive fliers to put on their bags. Currently, there is no definite timeline for how long the strike will last.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who have both been supportive of the Fight for $15 movement in the past, are both expected to speak at the DNC. The formal purpose of the convention is to announce the party's candidate for the presidency, which will be—barring any major surprises—Hillary Clinton. The Republican party's convention will take place in Cleveland, where there aren't any transit-related strikes expected... yet.